Dancing's Derek Hough: I'm Excited About the Switch-Up

Friday

Apr 4, 2014 at 6:32 PM

Hey guys!Thanks for your votes!I'm still on a high from Monday. This week was so special. I feel very grateful. The whole theme of Monday night was gratitude. Whenever Amy gets nervous or uptight, she starts letting her that affect ...

TV Guide

Hey guys!Thanks for your votes!I'm still on a high from Monday. This week was so special. I feel very grateful. The whole theme of Monday night was gratitude. Whenever Amy gets nervous or uptight, she starts letting her that affect her, and she really wanted the dance to be perfect. I said to her backstage, "You can't put that much pressure to make it perfect because you're setting yourself up for failure. Then you'll never be satisfied." I said, "Let's be grateful that we're here, your family's here, you went to the Olympics and won a medal, you're defying odds left and right." It was a flood of emotions, but that just takes the pressure off. Now you're happy to be there and you end up doing a better job any way. When they caught us backstage as I was putting my hand her heart, that's what I was telling her. Afterward, I just thanked her for letting me create something for her that was special for her and her family. I feel like it will go down as a memorable moment. I'm really proud of being a show that allows us to push boundaries and I'm honored to be a small part of Amy's story.During the whole week, we literally cried several times during the day in rehearsals! We're singlehandedly keeping Kleenex in business. Whenever I explained a certain step, we'd get real emotional about it. She said she's not really used to allowing her emotions to come through. I told her that the dance was permission to feel those feelings. It was definitely a sense of a rebirth. And with the new feet, she just had a sense of ownership and a new femininity about her. I think back to when I met her last month, and now she says she feels like she's rediscovered herself and she feels like a woman. It was awesome hearing that.This week has been crazy so far. Right after the show on Monday, I went to the premiere for my movie Make Your Move. It's funny - I never understood actors who said they can't watch themselves on screen, but now I totally know what they're talking about! I've seen the movie, but I don't like watching myself either. We're all working with our new partners this week. I cannot tell you who that is! I'm really excited about the switch-up. I think it's gonna be a positive thing and will re-energize the show. It's a break from the norm for everybody and it's an opportunity for us to get to know the rest of the cast better. Sometimes people have commitments elsewhere and you don't see them except on show days. But we're all going to go back to our original partners after this - no voting or decision-making involved. It's like a trial separation period and we're all having affairs!I haven't seen Amy all week and last night, I get a message from her, like, "Can we talk to each other?" It was really cute! I've been in there a couple of times to help her and her new partner out, but I've been unbelievably busy running around otherwise, so she and I haven't had a chance to talk at all.Since I can't tell you much about the switch-up and my new partner, I'll give you a rundown of my crazy Thursday.4:30 a.m.: wake up5-8:30 a.m.: press tour for Make Your Move9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: rehearsal1:30-2 p.m.: interview2:30-5 p.m.: Macy's Stars of Dance rehearsal5-6 p.m.: interview6-8 p.m.: meeting for tour with Julianne and Nappytabs8-10 p.m.: rehearsal10-12 a.m.: phone call for my bookIt's wild just looking at it right now! It was hectic, but I almost thrive on that schedule. I think as long as you can take care of your body, eat the right foods, vitamins, you can do it - maybe not every day because that would be suicidal, but it would be impossible if you don't take care of your body. In the past, I've gotten sick and injured, and a lot of it has to do with my diet.I'm gonna try to get some rest now. See you Monday!Derek

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Dancing with the StarsDerek HoughAmy Purdy